Lockout / Tagout – Advice

Lockout / Tagout – Advice

A. Protective Lockout/Tagout Materials and Hardware

• Lockout devices must be substantial enough to prevent removal without the use of excessive force or unusual techniques, such as bolt cutters or other metal cutting tools.
• Tagout devices must be substantial enough to prevent inadvertent or accidental removal. Tagout devices must be non-reuseable, attachable by hand, self-locking, and non-releaseable with a minimum unlocking strength of no less than 50 pounds. An example would be the one piece, workplace environment compatible, nylon cable tie.
• All lockout and tagout devices must indicate, singularly, the identity of the person applying the device. Each person must have their own tags and locks, if possible. Three approaches are:
  • Identifying or stamping locks with an identifying number
  • Providing numbered locks to be assigned to individuals at the start of the job. A record of the lock assignment must be maintained during the work period.
  • Providing color code locks and tags for different departments in addition to a personal ID number.
• Tags shall be constructed and printed to withstand the site environment and weather conditions to insure they will not deteriorate or the message becomes illegible during the work period.
• All tagout devices must warn against hazardous conditions that will occur if the equipment is energized. Wording is to include: “Do Not Start, Do Not Open, Do Not Close, Do Not Operate” and the why, e.g. working on pump, blower removed from the line, etc.

B. Standardized Lockout and Tagout Devices

Within the facility, all lockout and tagout devices must be standardized: color, shape (or size), printing, and format.

C. Limitation of Tags

They are warning devices only, not a physical restraint.

If attached to an energy isolating device, they must not be removed, bypassed or damaged.
They must be legible and understandable by all personnel.
The attachment must be able to withstand the work environment and not be easily detached.
They should not to be taken as a false sense of security, all affected people must be made aware of the reason for the tag – i.e. “work in progress”.